ABOUT

An old faithful at the nightlife enclave within Chijmes, Giardino is a pizzeria that has been feeding late night revelers for a long time with its reliable lineup of wood-fried pizzas, creamy pastas and grilled meats. Grounded in Italian tradition, the food here is hearty and the portions generous, ...More

An old faithful at the nightlife enclave within Chijmes, Giardino is a pizzeria that has been feeding late night revelers for a long time with its reliable lineup of wood-fried pizzas, creamy pastas and grilled meats. Grounded in Italian tradition, the food here is hearty and the portions generous, perfect for long, unwinding meals with groups of friends as the sun sets and cocktail hour sets in, all the better because of their affordable lineup of wines, and other tipples.

The highlight here is the pizzas, rapidly crisped up in a wood-fired oven. An all-day breakfast pizza comes courtesy of the Saporita, crispy bacon, melty Mozzarella, and eggs over a tomato base, a meat-lover’s fantasy in the form of the Bresola, featuring salty cured beef and bitter Rucola, and perhaps the most hearty of them all is the Salsiccia, which sees a tomato base pizza topped with mounds of Italian sausage, sweet cipollini onions and fava beans, like rich stew on a crispy pizza base. Top up the meal with some irresistible pasta, like creamy bacon-studded carbonara caught in the thick tangles of al dente tagliatelle, or pillow gnocchi in a gorgonzola cream sauce. Meats here get as classic Italian as they come, with a delicious “Paillard” style cut of beef that sees a fillet pounded till almost paper thin for extra crispiness around the edges and an unbelievable tenderness on the tongue. Wash it all down with a refreshing cocktail and enjoy the sunset falling over the beautiful church grounds outside, one of the finest views in the city. (Dec 2016)